WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO JOHN BOY KIHANO? by Susan Soon He Stanton

Represented by Gersh Agency [email protected] David Rubin 917.679.5566 [email protected] 310-205-5819

PAGE 2

CHARACTERS JOHN KIHANO A Hawaiian-Chinese fisherman in his mid-forties JAYDN KIHANO His wife, Chinese LANI KIHANO Their daughter, sixteen KAWIKA KIHANO Their son, fourteen JOHN BOY KIHANO Their son, five

WENDALL LUM A fisherman and John's childhood friend SANDRA LUM His wife and Jaydn's sister DICKIE BOY LUM Their son, seventeen SHAUN WIGHT Lani's boyfriend SLIM LEE A Policeman and first-cousin of Jaydn and Sandra

TIME

Anytime from late 90’s to the present.

LOCATION

Various locations on Oahu, Hawaii.

PAGE 3

ACT 1, PROLOGUE: THE REEF (JOHN KIHANO, 40’s, a Hawaiian- Chinese fisherman, deeply tanned, walks on stage. He wears a thin, tattered tee-shirt, paint-stained pants, and slippers. He carries a fishing pole and bucket. He leads JOHN BOY, his five-year-old son.) JOHN You know how it goes.

You don’t know? Nobady wen tell you? (John Boy shakes his head.) Kay den.

(John turns over his bucket, transforming it into a drum.)

JOHN I going tell it from da beginning. From da real old kine times. (John teaches John Boy how to beat the drum as he chants his version of The Kumulipo, a Hawaiian creation myth.) JOHN Cuz you know, at da start of all tings, there was noting but wada, dead and dark and still. Until da sun came and filled da world wit light. Den da sun get dark so da moon could shine. Wit da moon, came da tides and da fishes. Da ocean wen move, wen ebb and flow, den churn and boil. Dis was da time of night. Da night wen give birth to man and woman, born in da form of Kane, molded by Kane from dark, red earth. Da Gods enta; man cannot enta. Time wen pass. Da earth wen get created in full. Man enta, da Gods no can follow. Born was da children of man.

Man wen create one home on da islands of Hawai’i. Happy, he stay. Happy, he pay his taxes. He change his oil. He fix his roof. Happy, he stop fo listen to da Gods and try fo listen to his wife. He tink he doing good. He try become one family man.

He fails.

PAGE 4

ACT 1, SCENE 1: SUNDAY DINNER - KIHANO’S GARAGE (The lights brighten on the interior of the Kihano garage, an open and clean space with a folding table and chairs, the typical “Hawaiian style” dining room. WENDALL, SANDRA, their son, DICKIE BOY, sit in slippers around the table, drinking beer and eating food on small paper plates with chopsticks. JAYDN, mistress of the house, graciously offers everyone more food.) SANDRA Full already. WENDALL No worry, Jaydn. It's not your cooking or nothting, your sista stay on one a her “diets.” DICKIE BOY Mom, no can help, already. SANDRA God Funit, Dickie Boy! You like me slap you upside da head? (To Jaydn) It’s dis new diet. You eat plenny food but you drink lotsa water. Dis one haole girl from New Jersay, she wen lose thirdy pounds. JAYDN Where’d you hear about dat junk kine stuff? SANDRA Not! Was on Oprah, you know. JAYDN You look good! No need diet. WENDALL Afta da last ting Sandra wen watch on tv, she covaed her legs and stomach wit plastic wrap and wen walk around da neighbahood like she one chicken drumstick on parade. I was so shame. SANDRA Only try look good fo you! PAGE 5

WENDALL She ax, “Wendall! You tink my okole look too big?” “No, honey, is just big enough.” SANDRA You betta watch it. DICKIE BOY No can help but watch it.

JAYDN You tink you funny, hah Dickie Boy? Wait till I tell you maddah what Slim wen tell me. DICKIE BOY Just kidding, eh Auntie?

JAYDN Dickie Boy get pull ova fo one dewy [DUI] ticket and he stay so drunk he fell outta da car wen da cop wen open da door. DICKIE BOY Auntie, no need tell. It happens to da best of us. SANDRA Shaad up, you. (To Jaydn) Den wat? JAYDN You neva going believe dis. He wen trow up on da policeman. SANDRA WAT?!-- DICKIE BOY I neva-- WENDALL Sonny boy no can hold your beer? DICKIE BOY I came from one frat party, eh? Plenny chicks wen buy me choke beers. JAYDN Try wait, try wait--best part. Da cop said, “Eh, Dickie, dat you?” He wen trow up on his own uncle. (Jaydn, Wendall, and Sandra howl with laughter. Dickie Boy sulks.) PAGE 6

WENDALL You lucky bastard, you get Slim. DICKIE BOY Uncle Slim tink he so smart, tink he can teach me one lesson. He didn’t give me one ticket, he trew me in da slamma ova night. (John and John Boy enter. John Boy carries a bucket.) WENDALL John, bout time! Hungry enough to eat Dickie Boy ova here. SANDRA John Booooy! So cuuuute! You catch da big fishie-wishie all by youself? JOHN BOY No. JOHN John Boy’s one good fishaman, only he get so excited, he scares away all da fish. JOHN BOY I get one baby fish fo my tank. (John Boy shows Jaydn the bucket.) JAYDN Get Kawika help you put em in one tank and call your sistah, it’s late. (Louder) She know she s’pose help make dinnah. JOHN BOY Lani! Mom wants you. Kawika, I get one fish! Come see!

KAWIKA LANI (Off-stage) (Offstage) WAAAAT? WAAAAT? JAYDN (yelling) Hui! Get your okoles out here and close da TV. Your maddah is not one slave you know. (John and John Boy exit.) SANDRA John Boy’s growing up so fast. PAGE 7

JAYDN Did I tell you he made honor roll again? Dey put him in da shark class. SANDRA What is dat, “shark” class? JAYDN Da kids get divided into mahimahi, dolphins, and sharks. Da most akamai kids is in da shark class. SANDRA Ohh, too good dat boy, eh? If only Dickie Boy could be one shark, yah? DICKIE BOY High school’s lot harder, you know. WENDALL Wen you going buckle down? DICKIE BOY Dad...not here. (John reenters carrying a large fish.) WENDALL Holy smokes. You wen out, just you and John Boy, and brought dat sucka in? JOHN John Boy’s good luck. SANDRA Wat’s da big deal? DICKIE BOY Like see you try. SANDRA Bollohead, if cannot catch, just go Chinatown. (To Jaydn) I get plenny kine connections at Maunakea Market you know.

DICKIE BOY Gross. WENDALL John, try fo explain your secret to my wife. JOHN Dere’s no secret. Is not technique, it’s skill. PAGE 8

DICKIE BOY Uh...same ting, hah? JOHN Dat's where you wrong, Dickie. SANDRA Hoah, dat’s one surprise. WENDALL Quiet eh? Get some respect fo da masta. (The group quiets and turns to John.) JOHN Da men who’ve been fishing all deir lives are like ghosts. Dey know da ocean like it’s a part of deir body. Dey feel da current and da color of da water an den dey know what kine fish is going come next. It comes from da senses. WENDALL (To Dickie Boy) You neva going have what it takes.

DICKIE BOY You neither.

(Jaydn and LANI enter with more food. KAWIKA, Jaydn’s son, slumps behind, holding his sketchbook. Kawika and Dickie Boy greet each other with a complicated handshake. The following conversations should overlap and flow naturally. ) DICKIE BOY Sup Kawika, my man. (To Lani) what, no hello? SANDRA (To Jaydn) Hoah, tank god da girls are back. Dese guys act like dey get gills already. (Sandra notices the food) PAGE 9

LANI (To Dickie) Already seen your ugly face. SANDRA Too much! DICKIE BOY At school. You brother’s got mad skills. WENDALL Too bad good cooks don’t run in da family. LANI Kawika just draws comic books. SANDRA Who need learn fo cook wen Jaydn around? KAWIKA Just?

WENDALL Just once it’d be nice to come home to a house full of good smells. To open da fridge to someting odda dan leftovas. LANI It’s good but don’t you trace em? SANDRA EH! Where is da law dat says you cannot cook fo yourself? DICKIE BOY Dat was cold, girl. Kawika’s Iron Man’s got mad flair. JAYDN Wendall, I’ll teach you to make simple kine stuff. KAWIKA I totally reinvented da costume. PAGE 10

DICKIE BOY Wouldn’t ‘spect you to undastand. JOHN Jaydn, nobody’s going learn to cook noting wen you around to do it. LANI Hoah, sorry eh? Soooo sensitive. SANDRA Fo reals. Everyting taste more betta on da second day anyway. (Jaydn notices John’s catch) JAYDN John! Da fish stay on da dinner table. SANDRA Yeah, whatchu trying do, make us sick or someting? JAYDN Lani, go clean da fish. LANI I don’t wanna touch em. It's gross. (Jaydn gives Kawika the fish.) JAYDN Big cooler. JOHN Lani, since wen does fish bodda you?

DICKIE BOY It’s not da fish Uncle, it’s da fish smell. She don’t wanna hauna up her hands now dat she get one daaaaaaaaaaaate. (Lani gestures to him to stop talking. Dickie Boy smiles.) DICKIE BOY Da whole school know dey togetha even if nobody wen say it. SANDRA Is he real cute? Talk story wit Auntie. PAGE 11

JAYDN Lani is not going out. If she lies and act up, she’s not going get treated like one adult. LANI Mom! I’m in da tenth grade already. JOHN Where his faddah wen grad? Do I know him? LANI Dad...you always tink you know everybady. SANDRA Eh Lani girl, it’s good fo watch out. What if you related? Hoah, my frien, she wen on tree dates wit her first cousin befo’ dey ended up going togetha to da same family reunion. So embarrassing! And den, if you get kids, dey come out all funny kine, you know. KAWIKA Don’t tink you need worry about dat. LANI Kawika! Don’t encourage him. SANDRA We just curious Lani. No need be so futless. DICKIE BOY Yeah Lani, no need be so futless. JOHN Lani, why don’t you just tell us about dis guy already? You’re upsetting your maddah. LANI I’m not trying for upset anyone. DICKIE BOY You going get it, girl. LANI You da one who’s-- JAYDN Somebody going clean da gecko doodoo from da screens dis weekend if dey stay acting up. LANI His name is Shaun. Okay? PAGE 12

JAYDN Shaun who? DICKIE BOY Yeah, what’s da last name, Lani? LANI Wight. (A beat of silence. The adults look at each other, finally Sandra speaks.) SANDRA Hapa boys so good looking, aren’t dey? JOHN Is dat Stacey’s boy? LANI I don’t tink you know his parents. JAYDN We’d like meet dem. WENDALL What kine last name is White? DICKIE BOY Ha ha! White. LANI Mom, it’s not even one date. He’s so polite, you going love him. JAYDN We’ll see. DICKIE BOY Hey! I got a haole joke! How can you spot one haole in Waikiki? LANI Dickie... DICKIE BOY Dey buy aloha pants fo deir aloha shirts! (Dickie Boy is the only one who laughs.) WENDALL Okay. I’m taking Dickie Boy home. PAGE 13

SANDRA Jaydn and I barely talk story yet! JAYDN Oh, I get leftovas fo you! (Jaydn wraps up food in tupperware. Sandra helps.) WENDALL It’s too much... JAYDN (Threatening) Going trow it out if you don’t. WENDALL You always make sure we eat good. SANDRA I going call you later. DICKIE BOY Bye Uncle John, goodbye Auntie, tanks fo da grindz. Kawika, 7-11 befo’ class? KAWIKA Shoots. DICKIE BOY See you Monday, Lani. LANI Not if you value your life. (Wendall, Sandra, and Dickie Boy leave, leftovers in hand. Kawika and Lani begin to head inside.) JAYDN Hold it. KAWIKA Why me? JAYDN So you learn from your sistah’s mistakes. KAWIKA Oh great. PAGE 14

JAYDN Your faddah and I don’t like it wen you lie in front of da whole family. LANI I didn’t lie! I just didn’t get one chance for explain. JAYDN You know you no can date until you 17, like Dickie Boy. LANI That’s cause no one would go out wit him till his pimples cleared up. (John chuckles, Jaydn glares at him.) JAYDN Since wen Dickie Boy gotta be da one to tell me bout you? LANI Would you let me go if it was da Hu’s boy? JAYDN You didn’t tell me about dis boy, you didn’t help me wit dinner, and you didn’t come out to talk wit you Auntie and Uncle. LANI If I bring him by da house and you meet him, then can we go out? JAYDN Ax you faddah. JOHN (Startled) Huh? LANI Can I? JOHN You like dis boy? LANI Yeah, dad. JOHN Lani, your maddah, she worries bout you. But I know you akamai. So I going let you go. But he betta treat you right. I don’t want nobody tink he betta dan you. Rememba, you da boss. Dere’s no boy good enough fo my daughtah, undastand?

PAGE 15

LANI Right. JOHN Any boy who tinks dat, you tell me about it, okay? JAYDN You tink it's okay dat your daughtah lies? Kawika? KAWIKA Why you ax me? LANI I didn’t lie! JAYDN Don’t talk back! John! LANI Dad! JOHN Eh! I’m sick of all of dis yelling. LANI Can I go? JOHN ‘Memba what I wen tell you, now.

It’s okay wit me. (Lani kisses her dad on the cheek.) LANI Tanks, daddy! (Lani exits. Jaydn glares at John, who shifts in his seat.) KAWIKA Dis has been great. Good night. (Kawika exits. John gets up. Jaydn gives him a look.) JOHN You axed! PAGE 16

JAYDN So you’d agree wit me! JOHN I wen say it was okay wit me, if it was okay wit you. JAYDN It’s not. JOHN So why’d you let her go? JAYDN You let her go. You don’t care if she lies? And goes out wit a haole boy we don’t know? JOHN If you don’t want her to go out wit him, tell her. JAYDN You betta be home to meet dis boy next Sunday. JOHN I’m taking John Boy fishing. JAYDN Dis boy needs to know he no can mess wit Lani. JOHN We’ll be back in time. (John gets up.) JAYDN You not going help clean up? JOHN I was going read John Boy his bedtime story. (Beat) But first I going help you clean up... (John throws paper plates into the trash, and carries food into the kitchen with Jaydn. Kawika enters with a comic book.) KAWIKA (Calling off-stage) I’m doing it right now! (To himself) Ugh. Da humanity. (Kawika throws away a plate then sits down and reads the comic book. Lani PAGE 17

enters with a sponge. Kawika does not look up.) LANI You didn’t stick up for me. KAWIKA People neva believe me. I don’t care. (Lani throws a sponge at Kawika who dodges it and moves his comic book out of the way.) KAWIKA Careful! I’m Switzerland. Kay? It’s da secret of my survival. LANI How come dey always pick on me? KAWIKA Just mom-- LANI Just mom. KAWIKA Wit you and John Boy, nobody bodda wit me. LANI Well. You lucky. KAWIKA Maybe.

Why you want to go wit Shaun anyway? Dickie Boy says he’s a loser.

LANI Dat Dickie Boy. I’m so mad at him. KAWIKA Pretty funny wen he told mom. LANI Who’s side you on? KAWIKA Dickie’s. LANI Everybody’s against me! PAGE 18

KAWIKA Not even. LANI Is no good talking to you. (Lani exits.) KAWIKA Eh! You neva finish cleaning up! (Grumbling, Kawika picks up the rest of the dishes and follows Lani into the house. )

PAGE 19

ACT 1, SCENE 2: THE REEF - NEXT SUNDAY (John teaches John Boy to fish.) JOHN Hold on. Lemme show you how to set da hook. Dat means you force da hook into da fish’s mouth. Most time, all you need is one...sharp snap of da rod. You gotta be fast. And once you hook da fish, you betta be ready. Cuz wen dat fish feels da hook, it wants noting more dan to get free. I don’t blame him. Do you? Every kine fish puts up a different battle. You start to learn. Ahi, dey going swim straight away into da deep water, take you wit dem if you not careful. Ahi is da Hawaiian word fo fire. Ahi know dey stronger dan you and dey’re ready fo one fight. Opakapakas swim side to side. Dey try fo trick you, break da line, hit one snag. Auwkeke fight wild wen dey first get hooked. Api come easy to da boat but fight strong near da side, so be careful. Soon you going know which one you hook just by da tug of da line, da fight of da fish. Den you gotta know wen it's time to reel ‘em in. Trust da strength of your line, da strength of your rod. But don’t be cruel and leave da fish out there struggling fo too long. Cuz sometimes, once you catch ‘em, dey’re too small and you want to trow em back, let em live. JOHN BOY What we going catch today? Mahimahi? (John laughs.) JOHN Manini. Da smallest fish fo da smallest boy. (John smells something in the air and looks up, surprised.) JOHN Smell dat, son? (John Boy smells.) JOHN Reminds me of Maunakea street. Selling her leis, cool in da aftanoon heat. Even though she wen sell next to da fish market, she always smell like da sweetest flower. Pikake. JOHN BOY Pi-kake. PAGE 20

(John and John Boy both turn suddenly, as if their names had been called.) JOHN/JOHN BOY Yes? (John walks towards an unseen figure, pulling John Boy with him. Their fishing gear is left behind.)

PAGE 21

ACT I, SCENE 3: KIHANO’S GARAGE, SUNDAY DINNER (Jaydn and Sandra prepare food, Kawika, and Dickie Boy peel shrimp. Wendall watches them amused, drinking beer.) DICKIE BOY No offense or nuhting, but dis is ladies work. WENDALL Ha! JAYDN Just rememba how much you like my sweet and sour shrimp. DICKIE BOY Auntie Jaydn? Shouldn’t my faddah be helping you too? WENDALL Afta my beer. (Sandra puts a shrimp in Wendall’s hand. He grimaces but begins peeling, glaring at Dickie Boy.) WENDALL (To Jaydn) Well, if you need help... (Lani enters dressed for her date.) SANDRA You going wear dat shirt on your date? JAYDN It's not a date, Sandra. DICKIE BOY Dat’s not a shirt. LANI Mom! He’s outside. SANDRA Bring him in, let’s meet him. JAYDN Yes, let’s meet da boy.

PAGE 22

LANI Why is there shrimp everywhere? He might stay for dinner. DICKIE BOY Mr. White no like local kine food or what? LANI Can I send Dickie Boy away? (Shaun enters.) SHAUN Hi...Mrs. Kihano? JAYDN Nice to meet you. DICKIE BOY HI SHAUN! SHAUN Hey...uh... DICKIE BOY Dickie Boy. Like you didn’t know. SANDRA Sit down, Shaun. I’m Lani’s Auntie Sandra. You hungry? WENDALL Wendall. You like one beer? (Shaun looks at Lani for a response. He finally nods. Lani reacts negatively, he’s made the wrong choice. Jaydn looks at Lani disapprovingly. Sandra gives Wendall a bad look. Shaun puts down the offending beer and pushes it away.) JAYDN How long have you lived here?

SHAUN Since the summer. My dad’s in the air force. We move around a lot.

JAYDN Dat must have been hard. PAGE 23

LANI Mom, Shaun used to live in Japan. SANDRA Where? SHAUN Osaka. And before that, Germany.

DICKIE BOY Hoah, dat's AMAZING. SANDRA Is your maddah fashionable? SHAUN I don’t know. Not really. Need help, Mrs. Kihano? (Dickie Boy, Kawika, and Wendall drop their shrimp and hand the bowl to Shaun. Shaun gingerly picks up the shrimp, and tries to peel.) JAYDN Tanks, eh? I can neva get dis girl to help. LANI Mommmmm. You know I help out all da time. JAYDN Ha. LANI You neva make Kawika help you! KAWIKA Not! DICKIE BOY Kawika and I just peeled choke shrimp. WENDALL Eh, no worries Jaydn. Dat’s what da boyfriends are fo! You need any housework get done? Get dis buggah to do ‘em! (Wendall slaps Shaun heartily on the back.) SHAUN How’s this? PAGE 24

(He holds up a shrimp.) JAYDN Not bad. WENDALL We going make one local boy outta you yet. DICKIE BOY Wait till you find out wat’s fo dinnah! (John enters, distractedly, holding a giant fish.) WENDALL Holy smokes, look at dat fish! DICKIE BOY Uncle, you really outdid yourself dis time. (John grabs a beer from the cooler.) JAYDN Shaun’s here. LANI He’s helping mom. JAYDN Wash you hands befo’ dinner. Is John Boy washing up? I going make his favorite. SHAUN (Whispering to Lani) John Boy? Like The Waltons? LANI (giggling) My little brother. Nobody watches dat haole show.

SHAUN Excuse me, but the Walton’s is an internationally belove-d classic. WENDALL Pig’s feet everybody’s favorite, eh Jaydn? SHAUN You guys eat pigs feet? PAGE 25

DICKIE BOY Course not. Pig’s da name of our dog, he died yestaday and-- LANI You can eat da shrimp. DICKIE BOY I tink he should try it. JAYDN If Shaun no like, he no have to eat. SHAUN I’ll try it. Smells good. KAWIKA Mom, can Dickie and I go into my room? SANDRA Hoah, dat’s all you boys do, play video games! Stay and talk story wit your Auntie. JAYDN Its okay. I get one helper. (Dickie Boy inspects a shrimp.) DICKIE BOY Shaun, do you enjoy eating excrement? SHAUN Excuse me? (Dickie Boy holds up a shrimp.) DICKIE BOY Betta take out da vein or we’ll all be eating— JAYDN Dickie, since you da expert, why don’t you stay and help? DICKIE BOY Nah Auntie, my boy’s got it covaed. JAYDN Call John Boy. I like hear bout fishing. (John’s head snaps up on the mention of John Boy’s name. Dickie Boy and Kawika exit.) PAGE 26

SANDRA It's so nice dey go every Sunday. John took Kawika too— LANI But not me, cause I’m a girl. WENDALL You still pissed about dat? SHAUN I’ll take you, if you like. LANI Fishing? SHAUN Used to go with my dad. LANI Maybe. (Lani and Shaun secretly hold hands under the table. Dickie Boy notices.) WENDALL You know, Mr. Kihano here is quite a fishaman. Fished his way through college. SHAUN That’s a lot of fish. WENDALL Mr. Kihano and I go fishing every Saturday morning. Like come? SHAUN SANDRA Sure-- How come you neva take your own son? WENDALL Cuz dat bollo-head no can wake up befo’ noon. SANDRA And how come you neva ax me? WENDALL You? SANDRA Da men in dis house tink dey too good fo deir women. Slaving away in a hot kitchen.

PAGE 27

WENDALL You?

SANDRA Don’t you test me, Wendall Kapahukaniolono Richardson Lum. WENDALL Woman! You wouldn’t have fun fishing. I know! SANDRA I don’t know dat! I neva been! WENDALL You don’t get dat dere are just guy tings, dat women wouldn’t get. Back me up here, John. (No response) John? You listening? Whatsa matta wit you? JOHN I get someting I like to tell everybody. Good news-- (Kawika comes out of the bedroom.) KAWIKA Mom? I no can find John Boy. JAYDN You checked da bathroom? KAWIKA I looked all ova. JOHN Dat’s wat I try fo tell everybady. (Dickie Boy enters from the other door.) JAYDN Where’s John Boy? DICKIE BOY Not in da backyard.

JOHN He stay… Wit Auntie Maile. (A beat.) PAGE 28

SANDRA Auntie who?

WENDALL John, no offense or nuhting. But I’ve known you from small kid time, and I don’t rememba no Auntie Maile.

JAYDN Dat’s because he doesn’t have an Auntie Maile. JOHN You don’t know noting.

JAYDN I know your bloodline same as my own. Like da creases in my palm, I know. (A beat.) JOHN She taught me how fo swim. JAYDN Wat does dat have to do wit John Boy? JOHN She’s watching him. JAYDN Why? Why on Sunday? Dat’s da family day. (No response) Wen’s pick up? Eight? Nine? JOHN I...tink he’s staying ovanight. SANDRA He doesn’t even have one toothbrush! WENDALL Sandra!

JAYDN Why didn’t you bring him home? John, I don’t even know dis woman. Where does she live?

(No response) Where does she live? PAGE 29

JOHN Big Island. JAYDN She took him to a neighbah island? John! What da hell were you tinking? Hah? JOHN John Boy like go. JAYDN Whatchu you mean, John Boy like go? He’s five. You forty-five, you make da decisions-- JOHN And I decide he should go-- JAYDN --But you neva make decisions like dat widout me. JOHN Isn’t it enough I tink it’s okay fo once? JAYDN I can’t sleep till I know where my baby stay. JOHN She’s a good woman, Jaydn. Why you no can trust people? JAYDN Wat’s her numba, I like call her right now. Her numba? John! JOHN She...doesn’t have one. She lives in da mountains. Real old-fashioned like on a ranch.

JAYDN Like on a ranch, or on a ranch? Wat’s her address? JOHN She going bring John Boy home. JAYDN When? Tomorrow? JOHN Not sure. JAYDN WHAT! PAGE 30

WENDALL John. SANDRA Tell us where John Boy stay. It's not funny anymore. WENDALL Sandra’s right. You no can do dat kinda ting. JOHN She’s family. JAYDN She’s not my family! Some nerve. JOHN I promise, John Boy’s okay. JAYDN How can you make one promise like dat unless our son is right here? JOHN You tink I’d put our son in danger? JAYDN No. But-- JOHN Don’t you tink I’d do what’s right fo him? JAYDN Dis isn’t right. JOHN Is one good ting. I can sense it. Please. I’m so tired, I tink I no make sense, if I did, you’d know how good dis can be, yeah? So I going take one nap. Okay? JAYDN John? We are not pau yet. (He kisses Jaydn on the forehead and enters the house. Jaydn stands frozen for a moment then rushes after him. Sandra and Wendall follow.) JAYDN Don’t you dare. JOHN! I need one address. I need one phone numba. I need one god damn pickup time fo Christsakes! PAGE 31

SANDRA Dat’s right girl, you tell him-- WENDALL Just stay calm everybody. John’s gotta have one good explanation-- (The door slams shut. Dickie Boy, Kawika, Shaun, and Lani look at each other.

A moment of silence.

Sounds of dishes breaking. Something hits the floor.) JAYDN [OFFSTAGE] WHAT DA HELL YOU TINKING?

WENDALL [OFFSTAGE] Sandra, get outta da way! JAYDN [OFFSTAGE] WHO DA HELL IS DIS WOMAN? WHERE IS MY SON? (Sounds of arguing and destruction continues.) DICKIE BOY (To Kawika) Let’s bounce. (Kawika and Dickie Boy exit. Dickie Boy, unnoticed by Lani, takes a six-pack of beer with him. Lani and Shaun look at each other. Lani offers Shaun a container.) LANI Pig’s feet?

(Blackout. Sound of waves. )

PAGE 32

ACT I, SCENE 5: OUTSIDE THE KIHANO’S HOUSE - SAME NIGHT (Lani and Shaun sit together. Lani takes his hand and looks at his watch. They have been sitting there for a long time. She drops his wrist.

They listen to the muffled shouting. Unobserved, Dickie Boy and Kawika come around the side of the house. Dickie Boy and Kawika are smoking joints. Kawika, making an awkward first-go at it, stomps it out and giggles. Dickie Boy shushes him.) LANI You should probably go home. SHAUN Is there anything I can do? DICKIE BOY Lani! LANI Dickie! You scared me. You guys been smoking? Kawika? KAWIKA Not (coughs) even! DICKIE BOY Don’t you tink he’s been entertained enough fo one evening? LANI He’s just trying to help. DICKIE BOY And now it's okay dat he can hear all our private family stuffs? You’ve known him fo what, two whole weeks? SHAUN Hey--chill out, ok? DICKIE BOY What’s wrong, cannot handle? Go home, haole boy.

SHAUN What’s your problem? KAWIKA Sorry, he gets kinda mean wen he drinks and stuff. PAGE 33

DICKIE BOY Stay away from my cousin. I don’t wanna see you around here anymore. SHAUN It’s not up to you, is it? We can see each other if we want. DICKIE BOY Dat’s da ting wit you haoles isn’t it? You tink you can take whateva you like becuz you tink you betta. Well, let me tell you someting. Brown is betta. Why you tink brown eggs cost more in da grocery store? Cuz dey betta tasting. Den you pay extra fo size. Dere’s large, extra large, and jumbo. So next time you even tink about messing around wit my cousin, you betta rememba dat I’m one big jumbo brown egg. Cuz next time you boddah me, I going crack you wide open.

SHAUN You’re a joke.

(Dickie Boy lunges towards Shaun, Kawika holds him back.)

SHAUN Is that all you’ve got? Seriously? Guys like you never go away. LANI Dickie, why you gotta get so salty all da time? He’s not messing wit me. I don’t need your help, stupid. DICKIE BOY Shut up, Lani. (Dickie Boy pushes Lani. Shaun pushes Dickie Boy. Dickie Boy falls into Kawika, knocking him down. Jaydn opens the door, and stands silently watching the commotion. They freeze.) JAYDN What’s going on?

Why is Shaun still here? LANI He was just checking to see if everyting was okay.

JAYDN Goodnight, Shaun.

PAGE 34

(Shaun exits.)

Everyting is not okay.

LANI I know. JAYDN Get in da house. All of you. (Dickie Boy, Kawika, and Lani enter the house. In the light, it is clear Jaydn has been crying.) JAYDN At a time like dis, you sneaking around wit some guy.

LANI I wasn’t! JAYDN Your braddah could be anywhere right now. Your faddah is too incompatent to tell us what he did wit his own son, and you aren’t here. LANI I’m sorry. JAYDN And smoking too. (Lani is about to protest but she looks at Kawika and stays quiet.) JAYDN I don’t want you to see him anymore. LANI Why? What are you talking about? SANDRA Don’t give your maddah trouble. JAYDN Tomorrow I want you to come home right afta school in case anyone calls. LANI Where will you guys be?

PAGE 35

JAYDN If dis boy is more important dan your little braddah, go out. LANI I didn’t say dat. JAYDN You just like you faddah. LANI Will you listen to me? I’ll be here, okay? JAYDN I don’t care what you do. LANI Mom! Jesus! Are you even listening to what I’m saying? WENDALL Let’s just calm down, everybody. SANDRA Stop intafering, Wendall. WENDALL I’m not intafering. Jaydn needs our support. SANDRA You not helping. Jaydn going sleep ova at our house. JAYDN I need to be here if anyting happens. SANDRA You can’t stay here wit (Sandra gestures towards John) da kine right now. You need some rest. Poor ting... (Screams) DICKIE BOY! DICKIE BOY What? SANDRA Get some food fo take home. Lani, pack some clothes fo your maddah. (Lani and Dickie Boy exchange glances and exit to different parts of the house.) JAYDN I should stay here in case somebody calls. Or comes by. PAGE 36

SANDRA You need to get away, calm down. Anyway, Lani will be here. Won’t you, Lani? LANI Of course! SANDRA Besides, we only five minutes away. Tree wen Dickie drives. JAYDN Don’t know what I’d do widout you. SANDRA John? JOHN Yes, Sandra. SANDRA Is dat all you have to say fo yourself? JOHN (To Jaydn) Don’t go. Auntie Maile going bring him back soon. JAYDN What scares me da most, is how you keep saying she going bring him back again and again, like you not sure she going do it at all. (John looks at Jaydn.) WENDALL Is all one big mixup I’m sure. JOHN Jaydn, my fadda always said everybody get tree chances in life. JAYDN Can you handle tings by yourself? (Lani nods. Jaydn packs up things around the house.) JOHN JAYDN (To Jaydn) (To Lani) Da first was afta my faddah died, Dere’s planny of food in da fridge. I had to support my family. Call us if you hear from anyone Took ova my faddah’s boat. Anyone. Undastand? PAGE 37

I came from four generations of fishamen. Figured it was bloodline. But da first time, dere was one massive storm. LANI I lost control. I almost lost everting. Yeah. But I prayed to God and even to da ocean fo help. JAYDN Somehow made it back alive. (To Lani and Kawika) Second time was wen I was Answa da phone on da first ring. twenty. Was like I was already Keep it next to you. an old man. My life was saving money, going out drinking, looking fo women— Second chance came wen I met you. (Beat) You know dat. JAYDN (To Sandra) Maybe I should stay. Kawika might need help wit his homework. What if John Boy comes home? SANDRA Dey’ll be fine fo one night. Let’s go. JOHN Are you listening to me? JAYDN My son? JOHN Dat’s da third chance. What Auntie Maile’s going give him. Her wisdom...her wealth. SANDRA Wealth? JAYDN We neva had much but we managed fo our kids. JOHN You going undastand one day. JAYDN No. (Dickie Boy comes out with food. Jaydn and Sandra exit. Dickie Boy looks at Lani, then exits.) PAGE 38

WENDALL John?

Take care. (Kawika exits carrying the duffle bag of Jaydn’s things. Lani and John are alone in the room.) JOHN You going yell at me too? LANI No. (A long beat.) JOHN You know da story bout da old hermit? LANI I don’t know. JOHN Da old hermit lived in his house and mended his net. Everyone laughed at him. Wouldn’t leave him in peace. One day, a young man trew stones at da old man. LANI Are you lying to mom? JOHN Da hermit stood up and put six sticks in da sand. “Each stick,” he said, “is one day. Today I put dem here, tomorrow I going take one out. Da next day anotha. Wit da last stick, you die.”

LANI How come we neva met Maile? How come mom’s neva heard of her? JOHN Today, I saw a woman, all in white. Her dark hair, long and wavy. She wore rows and rows of pikake leis. Could smell da jasmine across da water. John Boy axed who da beautiful woman was. I knew it was Maile. She was more beautiful dan I eva remembad. I no can believe it was really her. LANI Who is she? PAGE 39

JOHN A friend of my maddah’s. She gave me my first job. Dethorning roses on Maunakea street. LANI John Boy’s coming back, right? JOHN What you tink? (Lani pauses.) LANI I tink he is. For sure. JOHN Ass why you stay da most akamai one in dis house. (Lani heads to her room.) JOHN You don’t want to hear da rest of da story?

LANI Goodnight dad. (Lani exits.) JOHN Da young man did not believe what da hermit wen say. Da young man said “I’m young and strong. I going live fo many years.” Da young man kicked over da hermit’s sticks and ran away. (John digs holes in the table with his knife and sets up six wooden chop sticks.) Maile...take care of my son.

ACT II SCENE 1: THE KIHANO’S GARAGE - MONDAY MORNING PAGE 40

(Lani and Kawika sit together, munching cereal.) LANI How’d you sleep last night? KAWIKA Hey Einstein--how you tink? LANI You guys going look for John Boy dis aftanoon? KAWIKA Guess so. LANI Tink he’s okay? KAWIKA Probably. It's mom and dad I stay worried about. LANI I couldn’t sleep, I had dis weird dream. (John enters carrying a fishing pole.) JOHN Morning. KAWIKA You went out already? JOHN Yep. KAWIKA Wen’d you wake up? (John puts away his fishing gear. Dickie Boy enters.) DICKIE BOY Look at all da fish! Saw dis huge buggar in da truck. KAWIKA Dad went fishing. DICKIE BOY Where? PAGE 41

JOHN Off Nanakuli. DICKIE BOY You caught a fish dat big from shore? You didn’t even take your boat? How can you even bring em in by yourself? (John becomes increasingly withdrawn and uncomfortable by Dickie’s reactions.) JOHN Got lucky. DICKIE BOY I’ll say. Dat’s amazing—even fo you, uncle— JOHN Tanks. (Dickie Boy puts his arms around Lani and Kawika.) DICKIE BOY How are my two favorite cousins dis morning? LANI Morning breath. Whatchu you doing here? DICKIE BOY Is dat all da tanks I get? (Dickie Boy sits down and eats cereal.) KAWIKA We surfing today? LANI You guys have to go look for John Boy. Why you here so early? DICKIE BOY Your mom’s making me drive you to school. And my mom wants you to pack more of her tings. LANI How long she staying? KAWIKA We have to go school today? DICKIE BOY Personally, I don’t tink it's a good idea. PAGE 42

LANI Course you don’t. KAWIKA We’re gonna be late. LANI Bye, dad.

(Kawika, Lani, and Dickie exit. John sits at the table and stares into space. He pours himself a bowl of cereal and begins eating. He goes to where his chopsticks are still left standing and pulls one out. Five remain. )

PAGE 43

ACT II, SCENE 2: KIHANO’S GARAGE (Wendall enters. He looks around.) WENDALL John. You home or what? He’s not here, you can come in. (Jaydn enters, surveying the mess. She sees the sticks in the table. ) JAYDN God funnit! Who da hell wen carve in my table? I leave fo two fricking days...

WENDALL Come on, Jaydn. Let da kids clean dat up. (Wendall leads Jaydn to a chair.)

You going make yourself crazy. Lani already brought you your stuff, what else you need? (Jaydn gets up and returns with a photo of John Boy.) Dat’s a good one. JAYDN Fo da poster. WENDALL You should get some sleep.

JAYDN Dey didn’t believe me. Afta waiting thirdy-six hours befo’ I could even report John Boy as officially missing.

WENDALL Dey took your report.

JAYDN But dey didn’t understand. “If you son is at Auntie’s house, dat’s okay den, why’s he missing?” I told da officer, “I don’t know Maile. I don’t trust her.” My child is wit a stranger right now and nobody seems to notice. PAGE 44

WENDALL Funny how everybody at da station knows John. It’s like dey all fishing buddies of his. JAYDN Funny. Used to tink it was good ting. We neva got any parking tickets. (Wendall unfolds a paper.) WENDALL Slim wanted to give this to you. It’s based on John’s description of Maile Kapuhanui.

JAYDN Oh.

WENDALL I told him you weren’t ready.

JAYDN She’s handsome. Almost noble looking. Wit those cheekbones and dat hair.

WENDALL Jaydn. You’re so beautiful. You can’t tink dat John==

JAYDN And smug. She’s so damn smug. What else did Slim tell you?

WENDALL He’s doing all he can.

JAYDN Stop hiding tings from me, Wendall. You a lousy liar.

WENDALL Slim said. It’s bad. He said dat da State has no record of a Maile Kapuhanui eva living in Hawaii. Let alone owning some flowershop on Maunakea Street. He axed John if there was some odda name she goes by? Cuz right now, dey looking fo one woman dat, according to their records...does not exist. (A long beat.)

JAYDN Thank you.

PAGE 45

WENDALL Jaydn? Are you?

JAYDN I bet Sandra neva told you dis story.

Wen my great-grandmaddah came to Hawai’i from China, she got real sick wen she was on da boat. She had to leave her little boy and little girl wit strangas. My great-grandfaddah was away, I neva knew where. Times was tough den, no one would take in two kids. So she left da girl wit one family and her boy wit anotha. Wen she got well, she picked up her daughta. But wen she try fo pick up her son, da family said, “Oh, he’s gone.” Gone? “He got sick and died months ago. We couldn’t getta hold of you. So sorry.”

Dat’s da worst ting dat could happen. Saying goodbye to her son, not knowing it was fo da last time.

WENDALL I going find your boy, Jaydn. Trust me. John’s a good man. Da bess.

JAYDN Doesn’t matter anymore.

PAGE 46

ACT II SCENE 3: AT SCHOOL (Shaun runs up to Lani and Kawika.) SHAUN Lani. (Lani gives Kawika a look.) KAWIKA Like I want to be around you guys anyway. (Kawika exits.) SHAUN Your mom was on the news. LANI That’s so embarrassing. SHAUN Mrs. Yee let us out of class to put up posters. (Shaun shows Lani a poster.) LANI Mrs. Yee made these? Howsit any of her business? SHAUN People want to help. All the mothers are rallying together. Even my mom wants to get involved. (Lani crumples up the poster.) LANI People need to chill out. What does it say about my dad that everyone’s just assuming John Boy’s been kidnapped or-- SHAUN Lani--I was there. LANI Don’t tell anyone about dat night. SHAUN Aren’t you worried about your brother? LANI Do you have my workbook? PAGE 47

(Shaun hands her a textbook.)

SHAUN There’s no point in me helping you with your schoolwork if you don’t even come to class to turn it in.

LANI I’m here now.

SHAUN Being on campus and being in class are vastly different distinctions.

LANI Stop doing my homework then. I didn’t ask you to.

SHAUN Are you mad about the fight I had with your cousin?

LANI I fight with him like every day.

SHAUN I want to help. LANI That’s what everybody says. SHAUN I can leave you alone if you want, it’s not a problem.

LANI You have no idea how much my dad loves John Boy. Nobody seems to understands that.

SHAUN I’m sure he— LANI Do you want to go to the beach? And just. Not say a single word? I think I’d like that.

SHAUN Maybe.

PAGE 48

LANI If you could hang out wit me and not bring it up...that would mean a lot to me. It would make me really, really happy. SHAUN Dunno if I can take your word on that. LANI Don’t have to. I’ll prove it.

SHAUN Guess I’ll see you at the beach then.

LANI Guess so.

PAGE 49

ACT II SCENE 4: KIHANO’S GARAGE SAME DAY (John sits alone at the table drinking a beer. Lani enters with her school bag. She throws it on the table. ) JOHN Shouldn’t you be in school? LANI [OFF-STAGE] Shouldn’t you be at work? JOHN Not today. LANI [OFF-STAGE] Or yesterday.

Mom was on da news. JOHN Did she look good? Chee, I shoulda taped it. LANI [OFF-STAGE] Everyone’s talking about it. People at school started coming up to me. JOHN Did you tell dem da truth? LANI [OFF-STAGE] I don’t know da truth! (Lani reenters with beach clothes and towels. She prepares for her date.)

JOHN You don’t worry about anybody. Okay? You just tell dem dat Auntie Maile is taking care of John Boy fo a coupla days. LANI It's almost been a week without any word. Why you tink mom stopped talking to you? JOHN Where are you going? LANI Beach. PAGE 50

JOHN Why are you putting on makeup? LANI How long till John Boy comes home? JOHN Your maddah doesn’t like it wen you wear too much makeup. LANI How long? (John hesitates.) JOHN I don’t know. LANI Dad, how can that be? JOHN You don’t believe me. LANI I’m gonna be late. JOHN She said she’d help us but I had to trust her completely or she couldn’t do nuhting. LANI Wat’s she going do? You said she’s rich, right? JOHN Promise me you won’t tell anybody dis. LANI You aren’t telling me anyting. JOHN She’ll get angry if she tinks I don’t trust her. I made one promise, and I cannot break one bond like dat. LANI Mom’s worried sick. Isn’t that more important? JOHN Your maddah makes too big a deal out of everyting. It will all work out soon. PAGE 51

LANI How do you know Maile isn’t lying? JOHN Lying? LANI Maybe she was a good person when you were a kid, but then all this bad stuff happened to her. What if she’s not...who you thought she was. Maybe she said all that stuff to trick you. JOHN A good heart stay a good heart. She’s like my friend, my maddah, and kumu, all in da same woman. (Beat) You betta go.

LANI Fine. JOHN Lani? LANI Yeah? JOHN Dey told me not to come back to work afta dey read da paper. Don’t tell your maddah. I no like her worry. I going get a betta job. LANI Whatever you say. (Lani exits. John picks up the sticks and inserts four back into the table.) JOHN Dat night da young man who trew da stones, lay in bed listening to da sobbing of his maddah. Wen sleep finally came, he dreamt of one evil spirit in da darkness. Da akua came toward him wit long claws and fiery eyes. Da young man woke up screaming and ran outside, sitting on his porch till dawn. (He pulls out one of the sticks, studies the other three, and walks out of the room.)

PAGE 52

ACT II SCENE 5: SANDRA’S HOUSE (Sandra’s house, a long table covered with boxes and stacks of paper. Sandra and Jaydn sit behind the table, stuffing envelopes.) SANDRA You start looking real pasty lately. You should go walking wit me. Get some fresh air. JAYDN Sandra, you go walking in da mall. It's called shopping. SANDRA Not! It’s my eggzacise. Deany Girl and I go walking in da morning wen da mall opens up. It's real nice. One lap is one-fourth mile. JAYDN I get no time fo dat now. SANDRA You gotta take care of your body too. You haven’t slept in ages. You spend all night cooking all kine food. JAYDN I want to make sure you guys get enough fo eat. SANDRA I gained ten pounds since you stay ova! You don’t stop. JAYDN We betta get these fliers up befo’ it gets dark. (Sandra holds one up.)

SANDRA It’s amazing what dey can do at Kinko’s, yeah? Dey even did ‘em in color. (Jaydn begins crying. )

SANDRA Jaydn!

JAYDN Wat if we neva find him? SANDRA You can’t let yourself tink dat way. PAGE 53

JAYDN Da police don’t do nuhting. SANDRA Dey’re doing deir bess. Da mayor called. What an honor, yeah? Hope I sounded smart. JAYDN You wouldn’t feel so honored if it was your son. SANDRA I’m so sorry. I talk befo’ I tink sometimes. JAYDN Did I tell you dey made him a shark? SANDRA More than once... JAYDN Mrs. Kato said she tink John Boy can do anyting wen he grows up. Doctor, lawyer, whateva he wants...of course, all he like be is da paperboy like his braddah but you know...one day he might get bigga plans. SANDRA He’s a bright boy. JAYDN You see dis picture? Dis was da time he wen try cut his own bangs, so he made a little window on his forehead. And by his smile, I can tell he lost his first tooth. Funny, I wen save all my kids baby teeth. Wat you do wit tings like dat? SANDRA Box ‘em. I get five boxes of Dickie’s Mutated Ninja Turtle drawings in da attic. But you can neva trow em out, can you? (Wendall, Kawika, and Dickie Boy come in with empty boxes. Wendall begins to fill up the boxes with posters.) SANDRA Already? WENDALL Your son can be a hard worker wen he try. SANDRA Dat so? PAGE 54

DICKIE BOY We put up fliers all da way into da valley, two on every telephone pole. KAWIKA I even got people to put em inside deir store windows. JAYDN Don’t know what I’d do widout you... DICKIE BOY No worries, Auntie, happy to help.

WENDALL It’s sad, going deep into the valley. All da banana trees are dying. Bunchy top. All of these tiny, wilted bananas. Dey say Panama disease is coming back. There might not be any bananas in fifteen years.

SANDRA Dat’s impossible.

JAYDN You should offer ‘em some from our patch. Sweetest apple bananas around.

(The men are is silent.) JAYDN John’s grandmother dug dat patch. Wen John was born, his maddah planted da placenta under da tree. And it was her place. Den wen I had my kids, I found my three trees. And dat was my place. Brings me peace.

DICKIE BOY Uh. Auntie, we betta head out. JAYDN Kawika? Sit wit me fo awhile. KAWIKA I gotta help Dickie Boy. SANDRA Kawika! Sit wit your maddah! Dickie Boy can manage. WENDALL Sandra, help us load up da car. SANDRA I’m coming. Hold you horses. PAGE 55

(Dickie Boy and Wendall exit carrying large boxes of flyers. Sandra follows.) JAYDN How was school today? KAWIKA I had one math test. JAYDN How do you tink you did? KAWIKA I dunno. JAYDN Give me a percentage. 85...90? KAWIKA Maybe 75? JAYDN Ai ya! How come so bad? KAWIKA C plus. JAYDN 75 is a C. KAWIKA C plus. Anyway, da teacha said can retake em if I want. JAYDN Just you or da whole class? KAWIKA Just me. JAYDN Take advantage of dat. KAWIKA Cuz of “family problems” is why I can retake. JAYD Talked to your faddah lately? KAWIKA No. PAGE 56

JAYDN How come? KAWIKA All he does is go fishing. JAYDN How can he go fishing at a time like dis? KAWIKA Maybe he was trying to calm down. JAYDN Is he upset? KAWIKA I don’t know. JAYDN Did he talk about me or dat Maile woman? KAWIKA He axed about you a lot, I guess. He said you looked good on t.v. JAYDN Oh yeah? (Beat) People going say a lot of tings about your faddah. KAWIKA Mom. Dey already are. JAYDN Oh. So what you tink going happen? KAWIKA I tink Johnny going come back real soon. JAYDN How do you feel bout your faddah? Wen John Boy comes back, do you tink your faddah should get off da hook? KAWIKA Mom, I don’t know. I guess I wish he hadn’t done it.

JAYDN Are you angry? KAWIKA I’m not happy. PAGE 57

JAYDN Whateva happens, I want you know dat your faddah would neva intentionally do anyting wrong. I want you to rememba dat. Even if he has gone crazy. Whateva happens, he still you faddah. KAWIKA Tink he’s really lost it? (Sandra reenters with Dickie Boy and Wendall.) SANDRA Da boys are going head out. KAWIKA Great. I going too! JAYDN I should start dinner. SANDRA No, let me. You cook too much. JAYDN I want to. Do you have any bread? SANDRA Wendall threw it out last week. He said da kine was turning green. WENDALL Honey, it was past green. Da buggah was orange going on purple. SANDRA I’m buying da groceries. JAYDN I’m your guest. SANDRA Jaydn! You neva let me do nuhting!

(They exit. Jaydn comes back for her purse. She picks up her wedding ring. She hesitates then puts on the ring.)

PAGE 58

ACT II SCENE 6: KIHANO’S GARAGE EARLY TUESDAY EVENING (Wendall and Dickie Boy enter the Kihano’s garage. John is sipping a beer in the dark. They do not see him at first. The room is full of fish.) DICKIE BOY What’s smells so pilau? WENDALL Smells like fish. DICKIE BOY Smells like death. JOHN Oh, hey boys. (Wendall and Dickie Boy jump.) WENDALL John! Thought we’d check on you. JOHN I’m glad you guys came to see me. Shows you put family first. WENDALL So...John, you’ve been fishing? JOHN I always fish. WENDALL But dere must be a hundred fish in here. DICKIE BOY Hoah, Uncle. You was always one killa fishaman, but dis is a world record or someting. WENDALL You don’t wannna sell em? At least trow em back if you not going eat. Give da other guys one chance fo catch. JOHN Haven’t thought about it. WENDALL Dat’s crazy. I’d kill to catch dat many fish. PAGE 59

JOHN Would you? DICKIE BOY We’d be rich. WENDALL Are da kids home? JOHN Kawika might be. WENDALL Son, why don’t you go talk to Kawika. Help him wit his homework. DICKIE BOY Me? WENDALL You. DICKIE BOY Chee...fine. (Dickie Boy exits.) WENDALL Sandra and Jaydn have been talking to reporters. Dey’ve been saying bad tings about you, especially Sandra. I can’t stop ‘em. JOHN Dey’ll do what dey like. WENDALL John! You gotta do someting, tell em what’s really going on. You can calm dem down, if anyone could. Dey blackening your name, John. Soon, nobody going rememba you fo who you are anymore. JOHN Dey’ll understand soon enough, Wendall. WENDALL Your wife doesn’t know where her son is...how patient do you tink she going be? (John picks up a dead baby hammer head shark by the tail.) PAGE 60

JOHN Rememba wen we went fishing by Kawela Bay wen we was ten? You got one baby on your line like dis-- WENDALL And I got so scared it cuz it was one shark dat I dropped da pole in da water. Jeeze, John. Dat was a long time ago (John holds the shark in his arms, more tenderly.) JOHN Dis one, I didn’t mean to catch. It jumped in my boat, I didn’t notice til too late. Look at his tiny teeth. Rows and rows, so delicate. WENDALL John...sharks don’t jump into boats. JOHN Dis one did. Maybe to get to all da other fish? WENDALL Tell me your secret, I have to know.

JOHN There’s no skill wit me anymore. I put da fishing hook in da wada and every time I bring back one fish. Couldn’t seem to rebait my line fast enough. Den I stop using bait. Den I stop using my rod. WENDALL What? JOHN I picked dem out of da water. Dey swam into my hands. Dey surrounded my boat, waiting fo me to catch em. So eager to be near me. WENDALL Bullshit...dere’s no way. JOHN It’s like I neva seen befo’. WENDALL Will you take me? I gotta see dis wit my own eyes. Why not. Please? JOHN Don’t feel right. PAGE 61

WENDALL Come on, John. You know I always stand by you. JOHN Tomorrow morning then. WENDALL Tanks John. Dis means a lot. JOHN Just rememba it’ll be like I told you. So be prepared, eh? WENDALL I’m sorry it seems like I wen take da ladies side on dis. JOHN Yeah? WENDALL But it's just...I don’t rememba Maile. Like, eva. And I knew you from baby time. I mean, we married two sistahs. We’re braddahs now. I always thought of you dat way. So...how come you can’t tell me about it. It’s just me. Wendall. JOHN Maybe you’ll undastand tomorrow, on da boat. WENDALL Okay den. Tomorrow.

PAGE 62

ACT II SCENE 7: THE BEACH (Lani and Shaun sit on a towel at the beach at night.) SHAUN You sure it’s okay to be out here? LANI My mom tinks I’m at home with Kawika. SHAUN This is the first time I’ve been to the beach at night here. You know, the sand here is very different from everywhere else I’ve lived. LANI Sand is sand. SHAUN In France, the whole beach is made up of slippery stones. LANI Stones? SHAUN And people spread out blankets and lie on top of them. This sand here is so soft...reminds me of cashew butter. LANI What! SHAUN And there are all of these tiny things...glass, coral, bones. LANI That’s not a bone.

SHAUN I thought that’s what sand was made of.

LANI Sand’s made out of shells battered against the waves for too long.

SHAUN Same thing. Bones. This sand feels very old. LANI We’re glad you approve. PAGE 63

(Lani and Shaun inch closer together.) SHAUN I like being here. LANI You already said that! SHAUN No I didn’t, that’s your local ego. I mean, it’s March and I’m wearing shorts. And the mountains right next to the ocean, and the trade winds, and every day...a rainbow. I know that sounds stupid, but I love all the places you’ve shown me. Sometimes, I see something so beautiful it feels unreal. Like I shouldn’t be allowed to see it, yet it’s right there, everyday, as if it were ordinary. LANI I thought you told Dickie you didn’t like being here. SHAUN At first...well, let’s just say it’s not so good to be the new guy. Even though I’m like a professional new kid. But you made me feel welcome here from the start. I remember the first time I saw you... LANI What? What did you think? SHAUN (Ignoring her question) That was my first day, the principal gave me a lei. At my old school, the principal didn’t know your name. And if she did, that meant you were in trouble. LANI On the first day of school, my used to mom make me beautiful ‘ilima leis. They’re really hard to make, it takes hundreds of flowers and their stems usually break in half when you put the needle through. They’re gold colored, soft and fluffy, like feathers and nobody can make em like my mom. Anyway, first day of high school, she made me leis to give to all of my teachers. I was so embarrassed. I told her nobody gives their teachers leis any more but she insisted. When I got to school I was so shame, I threw them in the trash. Hours of her work. That afternoon when she picked me up from school, she saw my math teacher. She asked him if he liked the lei and my teacher said he never got one. My mom didn’t say anything.

SHAUN How can you live with yourself?

PAGE 64

LANI No, really, I still feel bad about it. SHAUN That’s how mom’s are. When you get old enough, they keep doing stuff for you don’t want. My mom still packs me home lunch every day but I throw it away so I can eat the same food as everyone else. Helps me blend in.

LANI That’s so wasteful. Why didn’t you give the food to someone else?

SHAUN Then people would know.

LANI But I know.

SHAUN And now you’re special. You’re in the circle of trust. I hope I won’t regret my decision.

(They kiss. John enters with a net, spear, and head- lamp.) JOHN Lani? Dat you? LANI Jeeze dad, what are you doing here? JOHN Thought I’d come out here tonight. Look at da moon. Go fishing. LANI It’s late. JOHN No can sleep. LANI You should go back to bed. JOHN Aren’t you supposed to be at Sandra’s wit your maddah? LANI I told her I was spending the night at home. Don’t tell her I’m here. PAGE 65

SHAUN Mr. Kihano? I was just about to drop her off. I just hadn’t been to this beach before and I wanted to see it. It’s my fault. (John places his hand on Shaun’s shoulder.) JOHN I undastand (John sits between Shaun and Lani.) JOHN Lani--I neva got to finish telling da story. LANI Dad...why don’t you tell me later. JOHN Da story of da hermit’s curse wen spread fast. Soon, everyone knew in tree days, dat da boy going die. He saw dat his neighbors stared at him, like he was already dead. SHAUN (Whispered overlap on John) What’s your dad talking about? LANI (Whispered overlap on John) It’s an old story. I dunno why he likes it so much, it’s totally depressing. JOHN His friends avoid him, none of da men worked wit him in da field. No one like be near him. Finally, he went to da old man and apologized fo his rudeness. Da old hermit, sitting next to tree sticks just looked up, and removed anodda stick. (John holds a stick in his hand.) SHAUN (Whispering) Is that the stick?

LANI (Whispering) It’s a stick. SHAUN Sir? Do you want me to drive you back? PAGE 66

LANI He’s fine. Right, dad? JOHN Maile! Long time no see! LANI Maile? Where? JOHN I’m not John Boy anymore, dis is John Boy. My son. He’s helping me fish.

(John listens.) How could you be lonely? Everybody loves you. (John listens.) JOHN I tink about you often. SHAUN I think he’s talking to someone. LANI Dad. Dad! JOHN Your son drowned? I don’t know what I’d do if I lost one of mine. LANI Dad! Dad! SHAUN Mr. Kihano? (John snaps back into attention.) JOHN Eh? LANI Dad...what were you just doing? JOHN Talking. LANI To who? PAGE 67

JOHN You and...watchu your name? SHAUN Shaun. JOHN And Shaun. About da hermit and da young man...right? LANI You were talking to Maile. Did she tell you where John Boy is? Dad? JOHN I...I tink I going to go back home. Fish tomorrow. (John shakily gathers up his things. He exits clutching the stick in his hand.) LANI Dad, come back! (Lani tries to run after him but stumbles.) SHAUN Lani! It’s okay...it’s gonna be okay. LANI But...he wasn’t...he wasn’t talking to anybody... (Lani looks up surprised. Lani sees something in the distance. Is it Maile?)

PAGE 68

ACT III, SCENE 1: OUTSIDE THE KIHANO HOUSE (Kawika and Dickie Boy enter the garage. They are both carrying 40’s of Coolers Lite. Dickie Boy stands up on a table singing drunkenly and dancing in an exaggerated manner. ) DICKIE BOY (Singing) We should be togeda In a leeettle hula heaven ova da silver seaaaaa. Gay and freeeee togeda In da leeeettle hula heaven unda one koa treeeeee. Dreaming one dream of love. (Kawika laughs and almost falls out of his chair.) DICKIE BOY I no can believe one Kihano man could be such a light weight. KAWIKA (Whispered loudly) Dickie! Mom might catch us drinking. DICKIE BOY She’s not here. And Uncle John’s not going care. KAWIKA Let’s go somewhere else, okay? (Kawika tries to drag Dickie away but both fall to the floor laughing.) DICKIE BOY I like stay. KAWIKA Let’s just walk down da hill. Please Dickie. DICKIE BOY You like me take you out to da parties, you gotta play it cool. KAWIKA Do you rememba dat one girl wit da black tank top and da long hair? PAGE 69

DICKIE BOY Richelle. Everybody notice Richelle. We’re like really cool right now. KAWIKA Wen you wen go up dere to talk to her, I thought I going die. DICKIE BOY You gotta be bold. You tink chicks going notice you in da corner? I went up there and got da numba. KAWIKA I saw you go up dere... DICKIE BOY See. KAWIKA (Sustaining giggles) But I neva see you get da numba! DICKIE BOY Eh! Didn’t anyone eva tell you to respect your elders? KAWIKA (Giggling) Noooooooooo. Dickie....Boy. (Dickie Boy grabs Kawika and twists his arm behind his back and then puts him in a headlock.) KAWIKA Oww...Dickie Boy, stop. DICKIE BOY Dickie...what? KAWIKA Stop it. Come on Dickie Boy. (Dickie tightens the headlock.) DICKIE BOY Dickie what? Dickie what? KAWIKA Dickie...Boy! Ow! Ow...Dickie...Man. Mercy already. Owww! (Dickie Boy releases him.) PAGE 70

KAWIKA Jeez Dickie. Dat really hurt. DICKIE BOY You learned your lesson. Now don’t foget it. (Kawika looks at him reproachfully, rubbing his very red neck.) DICKIE BOY Hey, don’t get your panties in a twist, okay? (No response) Ey! Eva hear da one about da Portagee who wen buy one bottle afta shave lotion den wen slap himself to death? KAWIKA No. DICKIE BOY Dat was da whole joke, headless. You don’t know what afta shave lotion is? Hoah, I almost foget you neva wen shave befo’. KAWIKA I going bed already. DICKIE BOY Don’t get pissed. Oh wait, you already are, yeah?...Come on Kawika, dat was one joke! (They hear the faint sound of a car pulling up. The door opens and closes.) DICKIE BOY Don’t you want to talk to your sistah? KAWIKA Lani’s still out? DICKIE BOY She’s been seeing quite a lot of dat haole. And wen I say a lot...

KAWIKA Not even.

DICKEY BOY Tonight.

KAWIKA Don’t spread rumors about my sistah, man. PAGE 71

DICKIE BOY I get sources. KAWIKA Whoa. Mom’s gonna kill her. DICKIE BOY Hopefully fo everyone, she won’t find out. KAWIKA I won’t tell. DICKIE BOY Lucky fo her. (Beat) I tink she’s coming. (Dickie Boy grabs Kawika and they hide behind chairs.) KAWIKA What are we doing? DICKIE BOY You’ll find out. (Lani enters. Dickie Boy and Kawika jump out behind the chairs and yell. Lani screams.) LANI You assholes! KAWIKA Don’t wake up dad! LANI Why’d you guys tackle me then? KAWIKA You shoulda seen your face. You were so scared. (Lani balks at Kawika’s breath.) LANI Dickie Boy, did you get him drunk? KAWIKA Don’t call him Dickie Boy. PAGE 72

LANI What? KAWIKA He’ll kill you. DICKIE BOY It's Mr. Dickie to you. KAWIKA Sir Dickie Man to you. LANI Sir Dicksalot--did you take him to one of your parties? DICKIE BOY What’s it to you? LANI He’s fourteen. Don’t take him drinking wit your skeezy friends. DICKIE BOY What’s bugging you? KAWIKA Yeah! What crawled up your butt and died? (Both Dickie Boy and Lani look at Kawika surprised. Kawika can’t stop laughing at his own joke. He lies down on the bench.) LANI Dickie!

DICKIE BOY What? You tink I taught him dat one? Anyway, I wouldn’t get so mad about Kawika, not afta what you did. LANI I went to da movies. DICKIE BOY How come your legs all sandy den? (Lani looks over at Kawika, who has fallen asleep. He still clutches the beer bottle.) DICKIE BOY He’s asleep already. But he knows. PAGE 73

LANI Knows what? I’m going to bed. Help me bring him to his room.

(Dickie doesn’t move to help her.) Dickie Boy? DICKIE BOY Uh oh. What did Kawika tell you? You aren’t allowed to call me Dickie Boy. (He grabs her and puts her in a headlock. She struggles to get away and he pins her on the floor with himself on top of her.) LANI Dickie, get off of me!

DICKIE BOY You tink you such hot shit. You like to talk down to me at school, go out wit your haole friends. You tink I’m stupid, don’t you?

LANI You’re so paranoid. GET OFF OF ME.

You wanna know if I tink you’re stupid? You are stupid, Dickie Boy. You’re sooooo stupid. And you love it. You sit around drinking beer and jacking off and you aren’t going to go anywhere. You’ll neva get off dis damn island. (Lani shoves Dickie Boy off of her.) DICKIE BOY What’s so wrong about dis damn island anyway? LANI People like you. Look at you, you’re twenty years away from a beer belly, some menial-shit job, two kids, and a divorce. It’s staring at you right in da face like it's going happen tomorrow. DICKIE BOY Lani, you don’t give a shit about anyting but yourself. LANI That’s not true! DICKIE BOY Your braddah is missing. Five years old. I don’t see you doing noting but stay at da house. Everyday, I drive out and look fo him. Put up posters, make phone calls, spend time wit your maddah. Where are you? Seeing PAGE 74 your rich haole boyfriend and talking about how bad you have it? You tink you’re too good fo dis family? You tink you betta dan da rest of us? LANI What’s the point? The police got no clues. The whole island’s talking about us and looking for Johnny but nobody’s found so much as a fingernail. Dad says he’ll bring John Boy back. I know he will. And I know no one can find him till then. So I believe my father. What’s so wrong wit that? DICKIE BOY So dat’s it den? You just going sit back and do noting? You just going to give up on your braddah and just hang out wit dis guy? He just going to tell his friends he had one hula dancer wen he was in Hawaii. LANI Shut up, Dickie. You don’t know anything.

DICKIE BOY Eh, Lani. You wen lost it in one BMW? Or was it in one Volvo? Real classy. Bet it was all romantic on da beach wit da stars. I saw Shaun buying condoms at da 7-11 tonight. He didn’t even notice me. Da bastard look real sure of himself too. So don’t act like you hot shit. LANI You don’t know nothing. You know what happened on the beach? My father talking to like a crazy person. Our mothers are like...obsessed wit dis campaign and John Boy could be dead fo all we know... DICKIE BOY Don’t talk like dat-- LANI Can’t you feel it too? The day afta it happened, I had this feeling, that Johnny was just gone. Like he was dead or in a place where nobody could find him no matter what. That’s why dad can’t really talk about it. John Boy drowned or something and that Maile woman had something to do wit it. KAWIKA He’s dead? (Lani and Dickie Boy turn to Kawika surprised.) DICKIE BOY/ LANI No. LANI I mean...I don’t know. PAGE 75

DICKIE BOY NO. KAWIKA Dickie, I don’t like you talking to Lani like dat. John Boy’s not dead. I mean, he’s not until we know fo sure. And dere’s no way we know fo sure until, we know. LANI Right. KAWIKA And dere’s no reason to be tinking like dat anyway. It would upset mom. So let’s go to bed. But first...Dickie, apologize to Lani. DICKIE BOY Not.

KAWIKA Apologize. DICKIE BOY Sorry...Lani. KAWIKA And Lani? LANI Sorry I called you stupid a bunch a times. I didn’t mean it. KAWIKA Nobody eva ax me what I tink about anyting. I tink everyone’s gone crazy, Dad, Mom, Auntie Sandra, even you guys. But...we’re all kids, you know? We aren’t like dem. We gotta stick togetha. So Dickie...I don’t want you to bully us anymore or give me Indian burns and stuff...and Lani, you should be around more...becuz Mom needs you. She says so all da time. Okay? LANI Yeah.

DICKIE BOY Sure. KAWIKA Okay. Let’s go to bed. I tink I going trow up. (Kawika slumps over again as if he was a toy who was suddenly turned off. Lani and PAGE 76

Dickie Boy look at each other, surprised. Together they help carry Kawika.) LANI Dickie... I am sorry. He’s only five. That’s why I felt he could go...because he’s so perfect and tiny. And he’s never done anything wrong, he’s not capable of anything bad because he’s still so new. So I thought maybe he disappeared before the world could get to him. That dad knew about a special place to take him but couldn’t tell us about it yet. And we had to trust him. I know what he’s doing is wrong. But I never wanted to help look, because at the time, I felt like we stopped looking for John Boy and we were just looking for a body. DICKIE BOY But we aren’t just looking fo John Boy’s sake. Lani, your maddah can’t sleep. She cooks us huge meals at four in da morning. She’s up cooking, frantically, neva stopping. We gotta keep looking. Because dat’s someting to do. Because nobody can just wait. It’s not natural. Wen you lose a diamond ring, you look fo it. You don’t wait fo it to come back. And wen you lose a child, you go out of your mind looking. LANI And if you never find what you looking for? DICKIE BOY Den somebody going pay.

PAGE 77

ACT III, SCENE 2: KIHANO HOUSE - EARLY MORNING (John sits in a chair, with his fishing gear, alone in a dark, sleeping house.) JOHN Da bible say God provides fo his children. But you gotta trust in him. Abraham went to da place God told him about. Took him days to reach dis mountain. Finally he lifted his eyes, and saw da place far off and knew da sacrifice he must make. He brought his only son. He knew he had to trust in God. God. God is da ocean. I once stayed on a fishing boat fo 17 days. Da ocean is da biggest place of all, empty and vast but full of life. All I saw were birds and clouds, den at night, so many stars. Made me tink of da ancient fishamen who went out there wit noting. My faddah was at sea wen Hurricane ‘Iwa hit. He was on da Big Island side, but he couldn’t get back to shore in time. Back den all we had was a small wooden boat, and no one can outrun a hurricane in dat. Da hurricane came closer and closer. Da boat nearly capsized many times. Two crewmen went ovaboard, but my faddah pulled dem out of da ocean alive. My faddah told me da eye of da storm is very calm. Wen da hurricane start coming da force of da wind was killa. My faddah was a big man, but he was powaless, thought he going die. He just had to hold on. Dat's what we gotta do until John Boy comes back. Cause right now, all you guys, you on da outside. You feel da winds, feel da waves. But I stay right inside da eye. I look up at da power of da storm but I know, too, it going pass. It will be okay if we stay togetha till da storm clears. We’ll be fine. I just know it.

PAGE 78

ACT III, SCENE 3: KIHANO HOUSE - LATER THAT DAY (John and Wendall sit at the table facing each other without speaking. There is a large pile of fish between them. Lani enters in her pajamas.) LANI You went fishing again? WENDALL He did. I didn’t. LANI What do you mean? WENDALL 5 am we go out. I’m right behind your faddah, same water, tree feet apart. Da fish are jumping around his hook, turning da water white. I see him scoop dem up wit his hands, like dey pieces of wood. I see him toss dem back and da same fish jump back in! Hoah, I no can believe my eyes. JOHN I try fo explain, Wendall. Fishing’s been good. WENDALL John. Dis is someting else. How come I neva caught not even one tiny fish, and you hundreds? JOHN I get lucky. WENDALL I know what I saw, and it's not luck. John! It's loko 'ino. Guaranteed. LANI Dad doesn’t know black magic. That’s ridiculous. WENDALL It's da work of da gods. LANI You’re superstitious, Uncle. WENDALL I’ve heard da stories. Hey! Did you put one curse on me? To outdo me at fishing? Is dat why I haven’t been catching any fish? PAGE 79

LANI He didn’t put a curse on you. He wouldn’t even if he could. WENDALL How else can you explain it? Thousands of fish, every kine too. Kines dat only live in deep water even dat I neva even seen befo’, jumping into da boat, and noting fo me? Not even a nibble? JOHN Do you want dese fish? I don’t want dem. WENDALL I would neva eat dose fish. JOHN Den sell ‘em, if you like. WENDALL People could get infected. LANI Infected? WENDALL You’re too young to know. E malama o loa’a i ka niho. LANI You know I don’t speak good Hawaiian. JOHN Avoid sorcerers and bad magic or you going get caught in deir teeth. (Lani picks up a fish.) WENDALL Put it down. It’s not natural. LANI Feels like fish...smells like fish. (Lani tosses the fish at Wendall. He jumps away.) WENDALL Damn it. You’ve got nerve, girl. Get dressed. I’m taking you ova to our house. Go wake up Kawika. LANI Dickie can pick us up later. WENDALL Suit yourself. PAGE 80

LANI I’m going back to bed. (She exits. John picks up the fish Lani threw.) JOHN I’m sorry you didn’t catch any fish, Wendall. I thought maybe dey would come to you too. Next time, eh? WENDALL Dere is no next time, John. JOHN You told me you had to see it fo yourself. I warned you. WENDALL I neva thought...John...if you could see da look in your eyes. You weren’t even looking at da water. Just staring straight ahead and pulling out da fish. It was like dey were just waiting fo you to catch dem. Like dey was just waiting fo die. JOHN Don’t be afraid... WENDALL I betta be going. JOHN You and Dickie Boy come by tonight. We’ll play poker, eh? WENDALL Maybe later. Gotta go. JOHN See you. (Wendall exits. John walks to the sticks and removes another, leaving one stick.) JOHN On da fifth day, he saw his family making leis. He axed dem why. Dey said, “Because you are dead.” To his own family, he was dead.

PAGE 81

ACT III SCENE 4: SANDRA’S HOUSE (Wendall enters. Sandra and Jaydn are making flower leis.) WENDALL What are dose fo? JAYDN To tank some of da maddahs fo deir help. SANDRA So, how was fishing? WENDALL Enlightening. SANDRA Whatchu mean? WENDALL Hey, Sandra? Can you go shopping or someting? SANDRA Hah? Is dat all you tink I’m good fo?

JAYDN I’m sorry Sandra.

SANDRA Fine. I’ll go, but only fo Jaydn. (Sandra exits.) JAYDN What happened on dat boat? I just talked to Slim today at da police station. He axed if I wanted to press charges against John. You have to tell me what I should do. Is he crazy? Do you tink he actually did someting. WENDALL No...no. I mean, it's John. It’s da same John, you know. But he’s just like...out to lunch or someting. He just hasn’t come back yet. JAYDN What does dat mean?

PAGE 82

WENDALL I don’t know. Frick. He really scared me dis morning. It was unreal. I just watched him, trying fo read his face. Trying fo see if he was as scared as I was. But dere was noting. JAYDN I don’t know what to tink. Sandra and I wen Ala Moana, she try fo get me to go shopping to take my mind off of tings. And I saw an old grandmaddah wit her grandson and I ran up and I grabbed his hand. I really thought it was John Boy. Dis poor lady thought I was one kidnappa. WENDALL It’s okay. I tink I see John Boy all da time. JAYDN Sometimes I go to da beach and stare at da water fo hours. Just looking. Once, I thought I saw him. Dis little ting, bobbing in da water. I thought it was my baby. But it was just driftwood and seaweed tangled up in garbage. Somehow it resembled da body of a child, curled up on it's side, sleeping. John Boy always sleeps on his side, wit both his knees bent forward. I was so sure it was him. And I was so happy. Because den I undastood. I thought maybe he drowned and John just couldn’t tell us. Maybe he didn’t know how to face me. At least den I would know. I need to know what happened to my child. My family. But I don’t. I always waited fo my life to get betta. I always thought to myself, tings are good but we could have, you know, more money, more time, whateva. I nagged da kids to study. I nagged John to fix da roof. And den you lose your child and everyting stops. Whateva life I thought I had, it’s ova. WENDALL It’s not ova. Not even close. You’re still a beautiful woman wit so many tings out there fo you. Tink about Lani, and Kawaika, and Johnny. You gotta stay strong fo dem. Think about what a good maddah you are, and a figua in da community. How much joy you can bring to people. Don’t get lost because you married da wrong man. (Jaydn pulls away surprised.) JAYDN What? WENDALL It’s not like dat, I mean, I used to respect John, more dan anyting. But I really admire you, Jaydn. You know why I eat so much of your cooking? Cause I see your soul inside of it, dat passion, dat cannot help but come out. I know...I know I shouldn’t even bring this up but...(beat) You don’t even rememba, do you? PAGE 83

JAYDN You have got to be kidding. WENDALL I know it was high school. But I met you first. You went wit me first. JAYDN We went on one date! WENDALL I liked you fo a year! Then I introduced you to John and it was all ova between us. And he was a player and he drank like a fish. JAYDN Well, he’s not dat way anymore. And Sandra, what about my sistah? WENDALL Look, forget all of dis. But... JAYDN But what? WENDALL I told him you was da girl I wanted to marry. And he just said, “too early yet fo see.” Da next ting I know, you guys were engaged. Look, I’m sorry Jaydn. You spend your life swallowing tings up. Please forgive me. JAYDN It’s...okay, Wendall. WENDALL You see, John was my bess friend and he always gets da bess tings, you know? Biggest fish, bess woman, beautiful children. Every time, he takes from me, he acts like he doesn’t even know he’s doing it. Dat’s what kills me. And I still love him. But now...it doesn’t matter. JAYDN Why doesn’t it matter anymore? WENDALL I know you don’t want to hear dis either...but I saw proof wit my own eyes. Da work of outside forces. JAYDN Maile? WENDALL Yeah. I tink it's...well, you might tink dis sounds stupid...but I tink it's da work of one of da Akua. I tink someting happened to him, wen he was out in da water dat day. PAGE 84

JAYDN What? Wendall! You don’t believe dat stuff. Nobody believes in dat anymore. WENDALL John does. He told me so, wen we were boys. One time, we went surfing in rough water. And he was knocked off his board and da water just kept turning him. He said he just kept rolling on da floor of da ocean and it wouldn’t let him free. We kept calling out his name, John! John! Looking fo him. We started crying, we was sure he drowned. And den he called out my name. He was all da way on shore. Holy smokes, we were all dumbfounded. He wen told us later dat a big wave pushed him all da way onto da beach. Evah since den, everybody say dat John had one guardian angel looking ova him. JAYDN So what am I supposed to do? Make an offering? Sacrifice my first born child? WENDALL I’ve been tinking about dose old legends, you know? Maybe Maile is a God in disguise. Maybe she’s da shark goddess. JAYDN Dere is no shark goddess. It’s a shark god, Kamohoalii. And if we believed in dat stuff, which we don’t, he wouldn’t do harm to us because he’s John’s family’s ‘amakua. He protects us. WENDALL Yeah but people who pick a shark fo deir god gotta be careful. You don’t know fishing superstitions, Jaydn, but dey say dat some sharks are itchy- mouthed uhinipili, eaters-of-all. Dey sink fishing boats. Even though da fishamen make planny of offerings. Dere’s no pleasing em. JAYDN What am I supposed to say to dis? WENDALL Wait. You know what I tink we should do? Follow John, next time he goes fishing. Maile is sure to show up. JAYDN Please don’t. WENDALL What? JAYDN Don’t tell me dese tings. PAGE 85

WENDALL But, Jaydn. If you had seen him fish... JAYDN Dis isn’t about da gods. Dis is my family. And if I can’t get him to tell me anyting maybe da police will. Dere are no gods Wendall, only people and deir families. And I’m going to get mine back.

PAGE 86

ACT III, SCENE 5: KIHANO’S GARAGE (Slim enters in a policeman’s uniform.) SLIM John. JOHN Slim. How you? Sit down. How’s Charlene? SLIM You know why I’m here. JOHN Yeah...okay. SLIM What did you do the day of Sunday, March 13th? JOHN I got up early, 7 o’clock. Woke up John Boy and we went fishing. SLIM Where exactly? JOHN At the reef at Nanakulil. SLIM And wen did you see “Auntie” Maile Kapuhanui? JOHN Maybe...eight o’clock. SLIM How did she come up to you? JOHN She walked up to me from behind. I neva saw her coming. SLIM Was there anybody else there? JOHN No, we were all alone, just me and John Boy. SLIM She saw you and walked all the way across the reef to you, but you neva saw her coming? PAGE 87

JOHN I was teaching Johnny how to fish. Man alive, was I surprised to see her. Hadn’t spoken to her in ova twenty years. But I wasn’t surprised. Auntie Maile loves da water. SLIM And wen did you decide John Boy was going to stay wit her? Had you made any previous arrangements? Were you meeting her there? JOHN Maile said she wanted to look afta John Boy, just fo a little while. SLIM Wen was da last time you saw this woman? JOHN 1985. At Waimea beach, wit my maddah. SLIM Does anyone else know Maile, odda relatives? JOHN My maddah died in ‘87. She was da only one who really knew Maile. SLIM John, we did a check on this Auntie Maile Kapuhanui. There’s no record of any living person in da state of Hawaii, or even da state of California, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon. Do you undastand? Aside from your testimony, no one else can prove she exists. There are no witnesses at the park dat saw you speak to any woman. One man saw you return to your car alone, witout John Boy. So, according to you, she’s real, she has your son, everyting is fine. But according to police records, you gave your son to a person who’s identity we cannot prove wit unknown whereabouts. So where does dat leave us? JOHN I don’t know. SLIM You tink you can just do dis to my cousin? She’s going out of her mind wit worry. You lucky she’s not pressing charges, so far, she’s only filing fo a missing person’s report. But if John Boy doesn’t turn up soon-- JOHN Calm down Slim. Da boy’s coming back. Soon. Is like I keep telling everybady but dey no can believe me.

PAGE 88

SLIM You know what my buddies are doing right now? Dey are out in a boat wit the coast guard. Dey’re looking fo the body of your son.

JOHN (moves away from Slim) Ehh. No need fo do dat. Dat’s not nice.

SLIM You tink I want to throw you in jail? I don’t know what shit you trying to pull ova everyone, John, but it's not working. No one believes in the “Auntie Maile” story anymore.

Look...everyone still tinks you’re a good guy. If someting happened to John Boy, an accident...don’t be afraid just to tell us. Or if she really did kidnap your son...but we need more to go on. Some cold, hard, facts. One place fo start. Because this lady left no trace. You told Jaydn she went to the Big Island? No one by her name or description boarded a plane. Neither did John Boy. I even watched hours of surveillance footage from the Honolulu International Airport.

(Slim studies John carefully).

She didn’t get on a plane. You know dat, don’t you? JOHN John Boy is safe, Slim. I know it. SLIM John...if you don’t help us, you are going to become a suspect to the disappearance and possible murder of your child. So, if you have any clue where your son is, I would tell me, right now. Am...I...making...myself...perfectly...clear? JOHN Sure. SLIM Do you have any more information on the whereabouts of Maile Kapuhanui or John Kihano the third? JOHN Not...at dis time. But bumbye, it's all going be clear. I promise.

PAGE 89

SLIM To hell wit your stupid promises. There’s noting more you can tell me? Fo your child’s sake? Fo the sanity of your wife? Fo your reputation in this community as a law-abiding citizen NOT guilty of infanticide! JOHN Infanticide...is like da killing of one baby. Not a boy. And how can you accuse me of someting like dat? Shame on you! SLIM This is your last chance. JOHN Auntie Maile took John Boy and she told me to be patient. Dat’s all I know. SLIM I came here to help you. But no one can help you. Next time I come here, I going do a lot more than asking questions!

JOHN You should know betta than ax those crazy kine questions. Your maddah wen raise you betta dan dat! (Slim storms out.)

ACT III, SCENE 6: SCHOOL PAGE 90

SHAUN Lani--your cousin gave me this note. You don’t want to see me anymore? LANI I never accepted he was gone. I was so sure things would work out because my dad wouldn’t let anything really bad happen. I wanted a simple answer but I couldn’t find one, so I ran away with you instead... SHAUN And now you wish you hadn’t. (Lani hesitates.) SHAUN You know, you didn’t have to write a note and give it to your cousin. LANI I didn’t know how to face you. SHAUN If you were feeling this way, you could have told me sooner. I would’ve understood. LANI You don’t. SHAUN I don’t understand families? Or loss? Everyone has a family. My brother died of leukemia when he was eight. My parents don’t speak to each other anymore. Lani, I care about you. But don’t tell me what I don’t understand. LANI I always thought they’d be around forever. Now I know that’s impossible. Shaun...if you could— SHAUN I’m gonna go now. I guess, call me if anything. (He stops himself) Just...take care. LANI Take care. (Shaun walks away. Lani watches him go.)

ACT III, SCENE 7: KIHANO’S GARAGE PAGE 91

(John sits in the darkness at the table. Jaydn enters.) JOHN Jaydn? JAYDN I came by to see you. JOHN Slim came by to see me too. JAYDN I sent him to snap you back into reality. JOHN I missed you. JAYDN I...missed you too. But John-- JOHN John Boy is coming home tomorrow. JADYN Wat? How? Are you sure-- JOHN Auntie Maile told me. I’m sorry fo all da trouble I caused, Jaydn. I thought I was doing da right ting. JAYDN Da right ting? You destroyed everyting. How could you give up John Boy? How could you not want to spend every single day wit him? JOHN Auntie Maile needed him more. JAYDN Just becuz she lost her son, doesn’t mean she can have mine. You didn’t tink about your own family. Why is dis woman so important to you?

Are you in love wit her? (Long beat.)

JOHN No. But she is good and kind and she was suffering, so much. And I thought...we have tree and she had none-- PAGE 92

JAYDN Wat! JOHN But it was only fo one short time. JAYDN A day would have been too long. Dis has not been a little while. Look, John. (She shows him her hair.) JAYDN My hair is turning gray. You turned me into an old woman. JOHN I’m sorry, I wish I could take it back but I can’t. It will all be ova soon. I promise. JAYDN Can we get him now? JOHN It has to be tomorrow. Look, just...cook a big dinner fo tomorrow night. Okay? A celebration fo John Boy’s return. His favorite tings. And I will bring him to you. JAYDN Tomorrow wen? JOHN In time fo dinner. JAYDN You promise? No more delays?

JOHN As long as I stay living, I going do dis tomorrow. JAYDN Tank God fo dat. JOHN Jaydn? JAYDN Yes? PAGE 93

JOHN Will you all stay here tonight? It’s very lonely here now wit da kids staying at Sandra’s. (Jaydn considers. John waits) JAYDN In one act of good faith, tonight, we all going sleep unda da same roof. But if John Boy... (she stops herself) I going see to it dat you neva see any of your kids again. JOHN Tomorrow den.

ACT III, SCENE 8: OUTSIDE THE KIHANO HOUSE PAGE 94

KAWIKA How come everyone staying ova? Even Uncle Wendall and Auntie Sandra? DICKIE BOY Didn’t dey tell you? LANI Dad told mom John Boy’s coming home tomorrow. For sure dis time. KAWIKA What? Dat’s great. DICKIE BOY Yeah. If he comes through. KAWIKA But now everyting will work out okay. We can stop sleeping at your house and Mom and Dad-- LANI I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions, Kawika. KAWIKA How come you guys no get excited? John Boy’s coming home tomorrow! (John exits the house quietly. He is carrying his fishing gear. The kids duck out of sight.) JOHN Last day. Da last stick is gone. KAWIKA Wat’s he saying? LANI I don’t know but he’s holding that stick again. DICKIE BOY Shit. Where’s he going? LANI Shhh. Fishing I tink. We should follow him. KAWIKA No...he’ll see us. LANI Come on. ACT III, SCENE 9: THE REEF PAGE 95

JOHN Maile! Maile! Where are you? It’s time, see? (Holds the stick) You promised. (He sees John Boy) John Boy! Give him to me. (John moves forward, but is stopped by an unseen force.) JOHN You promised Maile. We had one agreement! (Lani, Dickie Boy, and Kawika enter, unseen by John.) DICKIE BOY Who’s he talking to? LANI Maile. KAWIKA Maile! JOHN Dere was no trade! (John listens.) JOHN I no care if I’m da greatest fisherman who eva lived. You tricked me. Give me back my son. (John listens.) JOHN Take anyting else. (John listens. Sound of Hawaiian chanting that grows louder and fiercer.) VOICE Koho pololei. Pono’o ‘oe ke hele. Ai ole, I ke keiki e hele? Pono’o ‘oe ke hele. Ai ole, I ke keiki e hele? JOHN Isn’t dere some other way? (Realization) This what you wanted all along. (John falls onto his knees, unable to decide.) PAGE 96

LANI Shit, what’s she saying? Come on, Dickie. You studying Hawaiian in school right now. DICKIE BOY I no know wat dis lady saying. KAWIKA Come on! “Koho polo lei” is like...choose correctly. “Pono’o ‘oe ke hele” you...should be da one to go..” LANI “Make da right choice, you or da boy must go.” KAWIKA Dad wouldn’t go wit her anyway. She’s creepy. JOHN I’m ready now. (Chanting stops. Complete silence.) KAWIKA Dad? LANI He’s going into da deep water. KAWIKA Come back! DICKIE BOY Uncle, come back! LANI AND KAWIKA Dad! Dad!

PAGE 97

ACT III, SCENE 10: KIHANO’S GARAGE (Jaydn stands before a table of food.) JAYDN Everyting’s ready! WENDALL Jaydn...you going make yourself sick, cooking so much. JAYDN I can’t help it. I’m so nervous. Wen I woke up dis morning, John and da kids had already left to get John Boy. SANDRA It’s so exciting. Like Christmas, yeah? JAYDN Not...exactly. WENDALL Hoah Sandra, you have a way of always saying da wrong ting at da wrong time, eh? JADYN Sandra always means well. Maybe you should appreciate your wife a little more. WENDALL I’m sorry, Sandra. SANDRA (To Jaydn) You see what I have to go through? No respect. So what’s going to happen between you and John? JAYDN I haven’t decided yet. I’m so furious. But all I can tink about is John Boy...and dat’s he’s coming home today. So I can’t be angry right now. Ax me tomorrow, I guess. (Lani, Kawika, and Dickie Boy enter wet and shivering.) JADYN Why are you all wet? Where’s your faddah? Where’s John Boy? (John Boy runs in and hugs Jaydn.) PAGE 98

JAYDN John Boy! My baby! Tank god. WENDALL Where’s John? (Kawika and Dickie Boy look down. Lani bursts into tears.)

PAGE 99

ACT III, EPILOGUE: THE BEACH (Lani places the sticks into the sand in a circle. In the center, she puts a cross. John, dressed in white, watches Lani from a distance, but she cannot see him.) LANI I never understood why this was your favorite story. There were so many better ones. Did you tink you were like the hermit that no one spoke to? But everybody loved you. Or did you tink you were the foolish boy, who got himself cursed. Sometimes I tink you thought you were both. Maybe that’s why you couldn’t save yourself. But I’ll finish it for you anyway. On the last day, the boy was desperate, he prayed, he begged, he did everything in his power to fight the curse. But that night, he died. Just like the hermit said he would. The End. And what do we learn from that? Not to throw stones? To be kind to lonely, old men? That once we make a mistake, we can never recover from it? What did you want me to learn? You taught me so much, why can’t I understand your last lesson? After the boy died, no one ever saw the old hermit again. He disappeared, just like you. We had your funeral last week. The casket was empty. It could not contain you. It’s funny, I thought I saw you with Maile, on that last day, just for a moment. I don’t know why I could tink it was you, but I did. Crazy, right? Just two shark fins off in the distance. And then, you were gone. (She drapes the Ilima lei on top of the cross and blows him a kiss. John smiles.)

END OF PLAY